A Wounded Heart is the fourth episode of the first season of Virgin River and the fourth episode of the series overall.
Summary []
Hope's health scare prompts a difficult conversation with Doc. Charmaine asks Mel uncomfortable questions. Paige keeps secrets.
Plot Summary[]
3 days later, Mel and Vernon assist Hope back home from the hospital following a heart attack. Both remark that Hope must make certain lifestyle changes with which they could help her with. Hope is reluctant to take their help, and tries to dismiss them, particularly Vernon, enforcing her stubbornness every time a suggestion is made.
Jack arrives moments later at Hope's house with a healthy quiche in light of her lifestyle changes. Hope finds it revolting, and dismisses the prospect of eating it. The meeting is awkward for both Mel and Jack following the revelation of the relationship between him and Charmaine. This is noticed by Hope, who entices the two to work through their problems. The two work together to bring a mattress downstairs, but Mel initially refuses Jack's help. Eventually, she is forced to accept it and the two talk. Jack reveals that him and Charmaine are only in a casual relationship, but Mel believes that Charmaine thinks differently.
Hope decides that following her heart attack she must make some other changes in her life. Following this, she hands Vernon divorce papers, and it is revealed that the two have been married for the past twenty-years but living apart for most of that time. Vernon is confused, and pleads with Hope to reconsider, but she is adamant, and asks for Vernon to sign the papers.
Back upstairs, Mel and Jack are struggling to get the mattress through the door. Mel is distracted and has a flashback from after her stillbirth where she’s trying to move on and go back to normality by planning Joey’s baby shower. Back in the present, Mel and Jack manage to get the mattress through the door and downstairs. They offer to dispose of it for Hope but she says to keep it as it makes unwanted visitors leave sooner. They get the other mattress upstairs when Jack experiences a back spasm. As Mel leaves to get something for the pain, Jack has a drink from his flask and experiences a flashback of him in the Marines collapsed amidst gunfire. Mel returns and Jack takes some medication from his pocket. She brings topical analgesic cream to help with inflammation. Jack finds that weird but Mel remarks that she is a nurse. She offers to apply and whilst he initially declines, Jack changes his mind and asks her to do it. Mel sees Jack’s scars on his back and asks about them. Jack replies that they were from his time in Iraq.
At the bakery truck, Preacher, Connie and Paige talk about the baby turning out to be Lilly’s. Connie is shocked and appalled at what Lilly did, whereas Paige admires her bravery and wanting what is best for her child. Connie disagrees with this, but Preacher interjects, stating that they are not in the position to judge her. Connie mentions that she heard this was the reason why Hope had a heart attack but won’t mention who she heard it from specifically. As she walks away, Preacher says that she means well, which Paige questions.
Charmaine visits Hope later in the day to see how she is doing and in hopes of seeing Jack but it becomes clear that the two are not friends. Things become awkward for everyone involved when Charmaine realises that Mel is also at the house helping Jack.
Meanwhile, Paige stops by Jack's Bar to collect dinner, and talks with Preacher about her son and his possible education prospects. Paige remarks that she fears he would be bored with the standard curriculum. Preacher gives it to her on the house, for which she is grateful. He also hands her another payment of cash for the baked goods she provides. As she is leaving, Paige bumps into a woman asking for directions who recognises her as an old classmate from college with another name. Nonetheless, Paige remarks that she is not the woman in question and does not know the woman, given that she never attended college herself. Preacher tells the woman where to go and the two watch as she walks away. Afterwards, Preacher questions Paige about the incident as she told him she has a psychology degree. Paige dismisses this, saying she has been working since high school and it must be a case of mistaken identity although it is hinted that she is hiding something. Back inside, there is a bar fight between Jimmy and another man. As Preacher breaks up the fight, he questions whether something is wrong, to which a man replies no, pays, and leaves.
At Hope's house, she, Mel, Jack and Charmaine have dinner together. They all remark about how much they enjoyed the dinner, except for Hope. Charmaine asks Mel if she is enjoying her stay, assuming she is just visiting. Hope intervenes and tells Charmaine that Mel has moved here for work. Tensions rise between as Charmaine begins asking questions about Mel's husband and when he will be joining her in Virgin River. Mel remarks that he won't, disappointing Charmaine, who thought that they could go on a double date with her and Jack. Mel tries to end the conversation but Charmaine persists until Hope, annoyed, tells her that not everyone wants to talk about their personal lives with strangers. Charmaine apologises, saying that she didn’t mean anything by it and is just used to making small talk with people as a hairstylist. Mel excuses herself from the conversation when she receives a call from Joey. Charmaine walks away and Hope jokes with Jack. Mel tells Joey about Charmaine, who is just as shocked at the revelation as she was. After explaining the conversation, Joey questions why Charmaine would ask about Mark until Mel mentions that it is because she is still wearing her wedding ring. Joey tries to talk to Mel about it but she dismisses her. After the call, Mel returns to dinner to find Charmaine and Jack leaving as he needs to drive her back to Clear River. Before leaving, they offer to help clean up but Hope declines.
After the two leave, Mel remains behind to help Hope clean up. Mel remarks that Hope doesn't like Charmaine much, to which Hope agrees. Mel is surprised but Hope reminds her of Charmaine’s nosiness at dinner, although Mel says she didn’t mind. When asked about her phone call, Mel says that a lot has happened the last few years that she does not want to talk about. Hope respects this and doesn’t poke her nose further into Mel’s business. However, she reminds her that whilst protecting her heart can help prevent further pain, it will not give her a fulfilling life. Hope suggests watching some Fred Astaire, which Mel warmly welcomes. As Mel finishes up, she is reminded of the time that Mark proposed to her. After that, Hope calls her and she goes to spend the evening with her.
The morning after, Hope notices Vernon sleeping outside of her house and goes out to offer food. Vernon did not want her to be alone the first few nights but also didn’t feel like going inside. He gives Hope some supplements that he got from the city for her. While Hope appreciates the gesture, she is adamant about the divorce and asks Vernon to draw up new divorce papers with the current date after he mentions that her lawyer is deceased and the papers are decades old.
At the bar, Jack and Preacher discuss the donations they have received this month. Jack calls Brady in to give him his pay check and thanks him for his help. Jack also reminds Brady that he will always be there for him and tells him that if there is ever any trouble, to come to him directly. Brady thanks him and leaves. Mel arrives after a morning run and the two joke about the opposing views on running. She explains that she needs to go to Myrtle Farm to pick up some organic food for Hope. Jack offers to take her as the road to the farm can be confusing for newcomers.
Later, as the two are on their way to the farm, they become stranded when Jack gets a flat tire. The two talk whilst waiting for a tow truck, but the conversation becomes awkward and tense when the topic of Charmaine and the situation with Jack is brought up. Mel makes it clear that Jack and Charmaine are in a relationship even if Jack cannot see it and tells him that Charmaine deserves to know where she stands.
Back in Virgin River, Paige is seen changing the colour of her son’s hair using a box dye. When he asks how long they must carry on doing so, Paige remarks that she must ensure they are safe, implying that they are running away from some form of danger.
Shortly after on the road to Myrtle Farm, Jack and Mel are silent to each other before Mel apologises for upsetting him. Jack is confused as he has always been clear about what he wants with Charmaine. Mel reiterates that she is not against him, though Jack is unconvinced. All of a sudden, a vehicle passes by the two and Jimmy exits it. He begins questioning them about their reasoning for being on the road. Jimmy pulls a gun and demands that Mel come with him when he finds out that she is a nurse practitioner.
Cast []
Main Cast[]
- Alexandra Breckenridge as Melinda Monroe
- Martin Henderson as Jack Sheridan
- Colin Lawrence as John Middleton
- Jenny Cooper as Joey Barnes
- Lauren Hammersley as Charmaine Roberts
- Annette O'Toole as Hope McCrea
- Tim Matheson as Vernon Mullins
- Daniel Gillies as Mark Monroe
- Benjamin Hollingsworth as Dan Brady
Guest Cast[]
- Nicola Cavendish as Connie
- Lexa Doig as Paige Lassiter
- Chase Petriw as Christopher
- Ian Tracey as Jimmy
- David Cubitt as Calvin
- Therese Plummer as Caroline
- Wolsey Brooks as Medic
Co-Starring[]
Trivia[]
- It is revealed that Hope McCrea and Vernon Mullins are married in this episode.
- After bumping into a college friend, it is revealed that Paige Lassiter may be a false identity assumed to keep Paige and her son safe; it is not revealed what they are running from, however.
- The movie Hope is watching is called "Till the Clouds Roll by" (1946), starring Lucille Bremer and Judy Garland.